The Pageant Gal Podcast

Maria Giorlando
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Welcome to The Pageant Gal Podcast—your go-to space for confidence, strategy, and success in pageantry and beyond. Hosted by internationally recognized pageant coach and titleholder, Maria Giorlando, each episode delivers inspiration, insider tips, and real stories to help you win—on and off the stage. Whether you're stepping into your first pageant or chasing the crown, you’re in the right place—because every queen deserves to shine!

  1. 4H AGO

    Best Interview & Paid Speaking gigs: Build a voice that wins w. Michayla Del Guidice

    Hey Pageant Gals, Everyone in the pageant industry wants to talk strategy. What to say in interview, how to stand out, how to be polished, how to feel confident, how to win. And yes, those things matter. But what actually separates the women who win in interview and win in life is the foundation behind the words. It is self belief. It is presence. It is walking into the room and owning who you are without shrinking, spiralling, or second guessing yourself. In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Michayla Del Guidice of Align Her Careers. She is a pageant competitor, a new mama, and someone who has built a best interview reputation over the years. Michayla opens up about how she went from struggling with confidence and communication growing up to becoming the woman who can walk into any interview room and leave a lasting impression. And what I love most, she breaks it down in a way that is real, practical, and replicable. Confidence is not something you are born with. It is something you build. In this episode you will hear about... 👑 How Michayla developed interview skills early and how that shaped her confidence today 👑 Her pre interview “tune out” method to lock in and deliver with presence 👑 The biggest mistake women make in interviews, in pageants and in careers 👑 The unicorn myth and why you cannot measure yourself by a job description or by comparison 👑 Getting clear on your nonnegotiables so you stop talking yourself out of opportunities 👑 The 100 wins practice that strengthens your identity and helps you speak from truth 👑 Motherhood, ambition, and evolving into a new season without abandoning your goals If you have been doubting yourself, feeling like you are not qualified enough, or you want to become the kind of woman who walks into interview with presence and leaves unforgettable, this episode is for you. Connect with Michayla, Align Her Careers @alignher.careers Apply for coaching: https://www.thepageantgal.com DM me on Instagram @thepageantgal with your top takeaway

    40 min

  2. FEB 6

    2 Shifts To Become Unshakeable In Pageantry And Life

    Hey Pageant Gals, Everyone in the pageant industry wants to talk strategy, the tips and tricks to win, how to nail your interview, perfect your walk, level up your wardrobe. And yes… those things matter. But heading into pageant prep season, the biggest thing I’m realizing is this: what actually changes the game is how unshakeable you are as a woman on the journey to the crown and beyond. In this episode, I’m breaking down the two shifts you have to make if you want to be the woman who doesn’t just show up strong on stage… but becomes someone who cannot be moved by comparison, criticism, setbacks, or life challenges. Because crowns come off. But who you become after the crown is what matters most. In this episode you will hear about... 👑 The foundation: why becoming unshakable starts with building deeper roots, not just “doing more pageant prep” 👑 Your North Star: how to define your internal why (what this journey is about for you) + your external why (the impact you’re here to make) so you stop getting pulled off track 👑 The inner operating system: why your standards, values, and boundaries are what keep you steady when storms come 👑 The double yellow line theory: how to create non-negotiables that protect your queen energy, eliminate distractions, and stop the spiralling 👑 Practical implementation: journal prompts and actions you can start using today to strengthen your unshakable identity If you’re ready to stop letting life, people, and setbacks shake you… and you want to become the kind of woman who can win in pageants and in life… Watch the Becoming Unshakeable Bootcamp replays (Days 1–3): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPzZwkywAfYcUuoLwsUpv5NFI3ntH_aE- Apply for coaching: https://www.thepageantgal.com DM me on Instagram @thepageantgal with your top takeaway — was it deepening your roots, building your standards, or a little bit of everything?

    20 min

  3. JAN 23

    Expensive Doesn’t Mean Impossible: The Pageant Budget Mindset Shift

    Hey Pageant Gals, Let’s be honest, pageants are expensive. Life is expensive. The cost of everything is going up. But the problem isn’t the price tag, it’s the mindset we carry about it. In this episode, I'm giving you a perspective shift that will change how you approach your pageant journey. Because you get to decide whether rising costs make you shrink your desire… or expand your capacity and rise to meet the standard. In this episode you will hear about... 👑 The mindset shift: how to stop living in “this is unfair, I’m broke” energy and start getting clear on what you’re prioritizing in this season 👑 Cost creates commitment: why women who invest tend to show up differently, and how to use that to your advantage 👑 How to fund your journey: practical ways I made it happen (working multiple jobs, bartending, fundraisers, sponsorships, and getting intentional with gifts and savings) 👑 The standard: why crown level outcomes require crown level decisions, and why “expensive” does not mean “impossible” If you’re ready to stop resenting what you think you can’t have and start making intentional moves toward what you want.... Apply for coaching: https://www.thepageantgal.com DM me on Instagram @thepageantgal with your top takeaway!

    14 min

  4. JAN 9

    Stop Overcomplicating Pageant Prep: Do These 3 Things Daily

    Hey Pageant Gals, It’s time to stop overcomplicating pageant prep and start committing to the moves that actually win crowns. Whether you’re gearing up for a competition this year or you’re getting back into your rhythm after a break, this episode will help you simplify your prep and raise your daily standards without burning out. Because winners are not doing more. They’re doing the right things consistently. In this episode you will hear about... 👑 Self connection: practices that build a grounded, confident relationship with yourself (so you stop chasing validation and start commanding rooms) 👑 Movement: not punishment, embodiment. Train your body to carry confidence, increase energy, and unlock creativity 👑 One intentional pageant prep action daily: simple actions that compound fast, like content, sponsor relationships, interview prep, wardrobe, runway practice, and staying on top of deadlines If you’re ready to know what to do each week based on where you are in your journey, check the links in the show notes to apply to work together, join The Queen Collective, or apply for Miss Queen of the Screen. Miss queen of the screen: https://thepageantgal.kartra.com/page/miss-qots Apply for coaching: https://www.thepageantgal.com DM me on Instagram @thepageantgal with your top takeaway!

    22 min

  5. 12/19/2025

    Competitor to Director - The Truth About Pageants & Business | Elizabeth Marnoch

    Hey Pageant Gals, What would it look like if you stopped waiting for the perfect opportunity in pageantry and instead created the space you wish existed. In this episode, I’m sitting down with Elizabeth Marnoch for a real end of year pageant chat. Liz has been in the industry for over 15 years, she is a professional hair and makeup artist, and she is the founder and director of Canadian National Miss. This conversation is honest, unfiltered, and so needed as we head into 2026. In this episode you will hear about... 👑 How Liz went from fun glitz pageants to competing for national and international titles 👑 Why so many Canadians compete in United States systems and what Canada is missing 👑 The gap in Canadian pageant hair and makeup and how Liz built a business from it 👑 The moment she created Canadian National Miss out of pure frustration 👑 The lack mindset in pageantry and why there is room for everyone to win 👑 What being a director is really like the best parts and the parts nobody warns you about If you are competing in 2026 or building something in the pageant industry, this episode will hit. Follow Elizabeth ! @Liz.marnoch @canadiannationalmisspageant DM me on Instagram @thepageantgal with your top takeaway!

    39 min

  6. 12/04/2025

    How to Keep Investing in Yourself When Life is LIFE-ing (20s, 30s & Beyond)

    Hey Pageant Gals, How do you keep betting on yourself, in pageants, business, and life when bills are billing, responsibilities are stacking, and it feels like “this just isn’t the right time”? In today’s episode, I’m breaking down what it really looks like to keep investing in yourself in your 20s, 30s (and yes, even 40s+)… even when life is life-ing. We’re talking about: 👑 Why your 20s and 30s are NOT the time to shrink back into your comfort zone 👑 The difference between saving and investing – and why you can’t “save” your way into your purpose 👑 How I’ve invested in mentorship for 7–8 years (before I was making “good money”) 👑 Simple, low-cost lifestyle choices that helped me afford high-level support 👑 What it really means to have skin in the game and hold a higher standard for yourself 👑 Why waiting for the “perfect moment” keeps you stuck in the same place year after year 👑 How two women in the same situation can make completely different decisions – and get completely different results This episode is your reminder that: Your lifestyle should support your goals, not sabotage them. Life will never pause… but you get to decide whether your growth does. Investing in yourself isn’t about the dollar amount, it’s about the commitment and identity you choose. The Winner of our Queen’s Takeover Podcast Challenge 🥁 ✨ Congratulations to Miranda Rhinehart ✨ Miranda, thank you for binging the podcast on your road trip, sharing it over and over with your community, and choosing The Pageant Gal Podcast as your ride-or-die listening. I cannot wait to dive into your one-week Queen’s Takeover Intensive together! DM me on Instagram @thepageantgal with your top takeaway! DM me your review screenshot and tag me in your Stories: @thepageantgal

    24 min

  7. 11/27/2025

    How big are you willing to let yourself be seen? 👑

    Hey Pageant Gals, What would it look like if you stopped standing safely in the sand… and let yourself be fully seen running straight into the water for your big dreams? In this episode, I’m sharing the real story from my mentor’s retreat in California, where I found myself on a beach at 8am, headphones on, in a 90-minute movement practice… and felt an undeniable pull to sprint toward the waves while everyone else stayed planted in the sand watching me. That moment became my leadership initiation into a new level of bigness, visibility and being seen going for what I’m here to create in pageants, business and life. This isn’t just a feel-good retreat story. This is what it actually looks like to move first, be seen, and hold the bigger challenges that come with bigger dreams. You will hear about: 👑 The exact “beach moment” that cracked open my next level of leadership 🌊 What it really means to be the woman who moves first while everyone else is still standing in the sand 🧠 How to move through thoughts like “Am I doing this wrong?” and “Am I too much?” 🔥 Why you can’t call in bigger titles, income and impact without being willing to hold bigger challenges 🏰 Two reflection questions to help you choose where you need to go first and what room you need to put yourself in next If you want to be the woman who leads herself bigger—on stage, in business and in life—this episode is your invitation to stop waiting for permission and start moving. ✨ QUEENS TAKEOVER PODCAST CHALLENGE – FINAL EPISODE ✨ We’re wrapping up the Queen’s Takeover Podcast Challenge, and this is your last chance to enter to win a 1:1 intensive + a week of Telegram coaching with me. Listen to this episode, then: • Share your biggest takeaway on Instagram Stories • Tag me @thepageantgal • Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Each share and review counts as entries. One queen will be chosen next week for a full week of jamming on her pageant strategy, empire moves and leadership. 👑 READY TO PUT YOURSELF IN THE ROOM? 👑 If this episode activates you to stop standing in the sand and finally move first, this is your sign to step into a room that stretches you. DM me on Instagram @thepageantgal with the word QUEEN for current ways to work with me in pageant coaching, business and leadership. DM me your review screenshot and tag me in your Stories: @thepageantgal

    16 min

  8. 11/20/2025

    How My Client Got Her Entire Pageant Paid For

    Hey Pageant Gals, What would it look like if someone messaged you and said, “Your pageant is paid for. Entry fee, flight, the whole thing. Just show up and compete”? In this episode, I am telling you the real story of one of my Queen Collective clients who got a last–minute invitation to compete at an international pageant in China… with her entry fee and flight covered… and then walked away as one of the international titleholders. This isn’t a once-in-a-lifetime unicorn moment. This is normal in my world. And in this episode, I am breaking down what actually creates these “all expenses paid” opportunities for pageant women. You will hear about: 👑 How she went from “I don’t even know what to ask” to international winner in less than a year 🎯 Why having a clear vision and real goals changes the opportunities that find you 🧠 The mindset, preparedness and presence that make directors and partners want to bet on you 🌍 How building your network and showing up on social media as a leader makes you magnetic 💸 The truth about sponsors, donors, systems and why money flows to women who are ready If you want to be the woman who gets a DM saying, “We want you, It’s covered,” this episode is your guideline. ✨ QUEENS TAKEOVER PODCAST CHALLENGE ✨ We are in the middle of the Queen’s Takeover Podcast Challenge. Listen to this episode, then: Share your biggest takeaway on Instagram Stories Tag me @thepageantgal Leave a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts 💗 PINK FRIDAY: THE PAGEANT GAL BLACK FRIDAY 💗 Pink Friday is happening live on November 24. You will get: • A live call to ignite your 2025 pageant vision and goals • A behind-the-scenes Telegram broadcast as I grow my own brand and business • Access to special Pink Friday offers to: – Build your pageant prep plan to your win – Start monetizing your pageant journey DM me your review screenshot and tag me in your Stories: @thepageantgal

    36 min
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About

Welcome to The Pageant Gal Podcast—your go-to space for confidence, strategy, and success in pageantry and beyond. Hosted by internationally recognized pageant coach and titleholder, Maria Giorlando, each episode delivers inspiration, insider tips, and real stories to help you win—on and off the stage. Whether you're stepping into your first pageant or chasing the crown, you’re in the right place—because every queen deserves to shine!

Information

  • Creator
    Maria Giorlando
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Maria Giorlando
  • Show Website
    The Pageant Gal Podcast